I bet most people are not aware that there are phones and phone systems that are designed for people with special needs. Well, I’m sure they are aware these things exist, but perhaps don’t give it much thought. Even I didn’t realize the scope of products on the market that make the lives of people easier. I did not realize that there were phones with large buttons for those who have difficulty with their vision. And I was definitely not aware there was such a thing as an alarm clock that shakes the bed. The only special needs telecommunications product I was aware of is the TTY phones for the hearing impaired; I talked to a hearing impaired customer who was calling me from one. If you do not have special needs, products like these just aren’t a priority.
But, think about it. Maybe you have a friend or relative who could benefit from a special needs telephone or alert system. There are so many innovative and helpful products available today, that I wanted to write about a few that I found. These are simple yet brilliant concepts, and I have to tell you, I am impressed. It’s a case of “why didn’t I think of that!”
I want to start with hearing impaired phones. A normal phone isn’t going to work as well for a person who wears a hearing aid and not at all for someone who is deaf. There are phones with amplified sound made especially for hearing aid wearers. And of course, there are TTY phones for the deaf. I’m going to write a bit about both, and highlight a few products I found that I’m pretty sure will help many people in their daily lives.
Let’s talk about phones for the hard of hearing. As I stated earlier, there are telephones for the hearing impaired. I found a cordless phone that has great calling features and is designed with hearing aids in mind. The Clarity Professional C4205 Amplified Cordless phone. This phone is perfect for anyone who is hard of hearing. And why should someone who wears a hearing aid not have the option to have a cordless phone? Clarity is a division of Plantronics, and they work hard to make products to benefit the hearing impaired and deaf communities. Their phones all use Clarity Power, a patented audio technology. The C4205 has so many features. It amplifies the sound to 50 decibels. Yet, it is smart enough to only amplify human voices, so what you get is clear sound. Normal conversations. Noise reduction and louder voices. Perfect for any hearing aid wearer. It even works with hands-free Plantronics headsets. Perhaps you have someone in your life who struggles to communicate on the phone. This would be a lifeline for them.
This is available at www.adamtelco.com and www.teletechnology.net for under $140
Well, that takes care of making telephone calls. But, there is another problem that affects a lot of families. Watching TV with a family member who is hard of hearing. In order for everyone to hear the TV, the volume has to be set jet-engine loud. T
his takes away from quality family time. Well, what if I told you there is a simple solution to this problem? There is. It’s another ingenious product from Clarity; Clarity Professional C120 Wireless TV Amplifier. It’s a lightweight headset that lets the wearer hear the TV while it’s set at a normal sound level. This isn’t just for TV viewing, this wireless headset can be taken anywhere! It can be worn in public venues like museums, movie theaters, churches, etc… I really like that this product is available and gives people back their lives. No need to be left out anymore! I found a great deal on this headset at www.adamtelco.com.
There are also telephones made for visually impaired people. They may hear the phone and the conversations just fine, but maybe dialing is a problem. I found a product that had this problem in mind. The Cortelco ITT-2420 Big Button Big Display Caller ID Speakerphone is perfect for people who have vision loss. The buttons are big and lighted. The caller ID display is on a large LCD screen that is bright and easily seen. It is also compatible with hearing aids. Not only is this phone a solution for someone who is sight impaired, but the phone features all the elements that other high-tech phones have like caller ID, phone book, speakerphone, date and time, flash/mute/redial, and a hold button. This is a great phone for someone who can’t see very well. This can be found for under $100 at www.adamtelco.com, ww
w.teletechnology.net
I found another product that can help someone with hearing or vision loss. Using an alarm clock is a mundane thing we all use everyday. But, there are people that need extra help with their daily wake up call. I found an alarm clock that comes with a bed shaker and lamp flasher. The Clarity Ameriphone Wake Assure Super Bright Alarm Clock is made for those who can’t see or hear a normal alarm clock. The be
d shaker is sure to waken any deep sleeper. This might be a good clock to get your teenagers up and out of bed too!
These products are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many special needs products out there designed to make living a lot easier for people who need it. I’m glad to showcase them here and will continue to do so.
